Needle-actuating jack for knitting-machines



- (No Model.)

E TIFFANY NEEDLE AGTUATING JACK FOE KNITTING MACHINES.

Patented Apr. 14,1896.

IN'SZ'EN I EIR,

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

ELI TIFFANY, OF BENNINGTON, VERMONT.

NEEDLE-ACTUATING JACK FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,237, dated April14, 1896.

Application filed February 8,1895. Serial No. 537,706. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELI TIFFANY, of the village of Bennington, in thecounty of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Needle-Actuating Jacks for Knitting-Machines; andI hereby declare that the following description, in connection with theaccompanyin g drawings, constitutes a specification thereof and of thebest method of constructing and using the same.

The object of this invention is to make provisions in connection withcylinder knittingmachines whereby needles of much finer gage may be usedthan in machines as now constructed, and also in which a single brokenneedle may be removed and another substituted without loss or damage toany adjacent needle.

In a prior application by me for a patent on some parts of thisinvention, serially numbered 519,7 31, filed August 8, 1894, aneedlejack was shown in connection with a duplex needle made from asingle wire or other material bent upon itself in the -middle. This bendwas adapted to connect with a jack fitted for the purpose. Suchconstruction was successful in practice, but was open to the objectionthat if a needle was broken or became useless it cost in making a repairthe sacrifice of the remaining uninjured half or the companion needle.To obviate this objection and also to provide for the employment ofneedles of ordinary construction are among the objects of thisinvention.

The invention is fully illustrated in the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 isa vertical longitudinal section through the stationary and runningportions of an ordinary cylinder knitting-machine. Fig. 2 is a view of aportion of the exterior of the running cylinder. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of one of my improved needle-jacks with a single needle connectedtherewith, the other one being removed.

A section of the running cylinder is shown at A. A part of its face israbbeted back between the points it and 10 to a depth sufficient to takein the bodies of the jacks O. This leaves two lands Q and R, which arefurrowed or grooved, as shown. The upper one, B, is grooved to take inthe needles E and to a depth coincident with the exposed surface of thejack when in position. The lower land Q is also grooved, as at m m, toreceive the bodies of the jacks O. The grooves m m stand opposite thespaces between the grooves 79 is of the upper-land or the needle-bedproper. As each jack carries more than one needle, it is obvious thatthe proportion of j ack-grooves to needle-grooves will be the same asthe proportion of jacks to needles. In this case I have shown the jacksas fitted to carry two needles; but they may be made to carry anyfeasible number of needles.

The jack is shown in Fig. 3, and consists of a blade of substantiallyuniform thickness, having a driving-shank h and an enlarged head f,through which are bored the holes g to receive the shanks of the needlesE. The needle-shanks do not fit the holes so tight but that they may beeasily removed.

In use the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1. The upper part of thestationary portion of the cam-cylinder B bears against the ledge Z ofthe needle-bed, and thus closes in the needles, leaving but a small wayfor their free action. Below the shoulder 25 the needle- .actuating camsD are placed atthe proper distance to allow the jack-shanks h h to passbetween them. The needles E are connected by their shanks with the holesg g of the j ackheads ff. Thus combined, if a needle fails in any way,to repair it it is only necessary to rotate the cylinder around to apoint where there is a removable section of the cylinder B and take itout and replace it with a new needle or repair the old one, if it iscapable of repair.

It is immaterial which of the two cylinders A or B is the rotatingmember of the combination, as both constructions are in use.

I therefore claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, the following: 7

The two cylinders A and B one of which rotates in contact with the otherin combination with the needles E each of which has its inner end bentat right angles, and the jacks 0 each of which is constructed with alaterally-extending shaft h and an enlarged head f the latter havingrecesses 9 formed therein to receive the bent ends of two or more ofthese needles, the said cylinders being rabbeted in their proximatefaces to receive respectively the bodies and the shanks of the saidjacks and the cylinder B being provided with shoulder 15 and cams Drespectively above and below the said shank, While thecorresponding faceof the cylinder A has the lands R and Q formed thereon, said lands beinggrooved at 713 and on to guide the said jacks and needles substantiallyas set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, at Bennington,in the State 10 of Vermont, this 5thday of February, A. I).

ELI TIFFANY. In presence of F. M. TIFFANY, FRANKLIN SCOTT.

